The Tufts
Ballroom Dance
Team Constitution
Last Updated: Spring 2015
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE 1: NAME - 4
ARTICLE 2: PURPOSE - 4
ARTICLE 3: MEMBERSHIP - 4
SECTION 1: ELIGIBILITY - 4
SECTION 2: AFFILIATION - 4
SECTION 3: DUES - 4
SECTION 4: NONDISCRIMINATION CLAUSE - 4
ARTICLE 4: MEETINGS - 4
ARTICLE 5: DUTIES OF TEAM MEMBERS - 4
SECTION 1: BEGINNER - 4
SECTION 2: ADVANCED - 5
SECTION 3: SENIOR - 5
ARTICLE 6: EXECUTIVE BOARD DUTIES AND ELECTION PROCEDURES - 5
SECTION 1: MEMBERS OF EXECUTIVE BOARD - 5
SECTION 2: ELECTIONS - 6
SECTION 3: EMERGENCY ELECTIONS - 6
SECTION 4: RIGHTS OF TEAM MEMBERS - 6
SECTION 5: MAJORITY VOTE - 6
SECTION 6: RE-RUNNING FOR OFFICER POSITIONS - 6
SECTION 7: EMERGENCY RESPONSIBILITIES - 6
SECTION 8: DEMOCRATIC AND COLLABORATIVE SPIRIT - 6
SECTION 9: MEETINGS - 7
SECTION 10: EXECUTIVE BOARD TRAINING - 7
ARTICLE 7: EXECUTIVE BOARD POSITIONS - 7
SECTION 1: TEAM CAPTAINS - 7
SECTION 2: TREASURER - 8
SECTION 3: COMPETITION COORDINATORS - 8
SECTION 4: SHOW DIRECTOR - 9
SECTION 5: SOCIAL CHAIR/ HISTORIAN - 9
ARTICLE 8: IMPEACHMENT PROCEDURES - 9
SECTION 1: VOTING - 9
SECTION 2: INABILITY TO RETURN TO OFFICE - 9
SECTION 3: GROUNDS FOR IMPEACHMENT - 10
ARTICLE 9: AMENDMENTS - 10
SECTION 1: VOTING ON CHANGES - 10
SECTION 2: ATTENDANCE OF OFFICERS - 10
SECTION 3: TCUJ APPROVAL - 10
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ARTICLE 10: TRANSITION AND RENEWAL PROCEDURES - 10
SECTION 1: MENTORING NEW OFFICERS - 10
SECTION 2: EQUIPMENT AND DOCUMENTATION - 10
SECTION 3: RENEWAL FORMS - 10
SECTION 4: BUDGET SUBMISSION - 10
SECTION 5: RE-RECOGNITION WITH THE TCUJ - 11
ARTICLE 11: SUBSIDY - 11
SECTION 1: ELIGIBILITY - 11
SECTION 2: USE OF SUBSIDY MONEY - 11
SECTION 3: SUBSIDY HANDBOOK - 11
SECTION 4: PAYMENT TO STUDIOS - 11
ARTICLE 12: TEAM COACH - 11
SECTION 1: CHOOSING A COACH - 11
SECTION 2: REQUIREMENTS - 11
SECTION 3: ROLE - 12
SECTION 4: INABILITY TO VOTE - 12
SECTION 5: LETTER OF REQUEST - 12
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Article 1: Name
The name of the organization shall be Tufts Ballroom Dance Team.
Article 2: Purpose
The aims of the Ballroom Dance Team are to educate the college populace in ballroom dancing, build selfconfidence in members, promote physical fitness through ballroom dancing, encourage personal discipline
in members, promote friendship and loyalty among members, and to support the aims of the college
community through ballroom dancing. We encourage our members to compete at local competitions,
practice their dancing at team practices, participate in our on-campus shows, and engage in social dancing.
Article 3: Membership
Section 1: Eligibility
Membership shall be open to any undergraduate who has paid the undergraduate Student Activities Fee
and member dues. Membership is also open to Graduate students and other members of the Tufts
University community, but these members are part of the Senior Member category and must abide by the
rules set forth in Article 5, Section 3.
Section 2: Affiliation
The ability to compete in Ballroom Dance competitions with the Tufts affiliation shall require attending
lessons with an instructor or a team-sponsored practice at least once a week.
Section 3: Dues
Membership for the Tufts Ballroom Dance Team shall also require a minor fee, membership dues. Dues
shall not be more than $40 per semester, to help cover the cost of dance instruction and competition fees.
The Executive Board shall decide the exact fee no more than 30 days after the beginning of each semester.
The treasurer is responsible for presenting the board with a suggestion for the amount to be collected.
Before the fee is collected, the amount must be passed by the Executive Board with a simple majority
vote. Financial Need will be addressed on an individual basis.
Section 4: Nondiscrimination Clause
Every member of the Tufts Ballroom Team has the right to participate in any Team events and proceedings
without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity and expression, national or
ethnic origin, age, sexual orientation, or disability.
Article 4: Meetings
Team meetings, which include group lessons, open practices, will be held on a regular basis during the
academic semester, as decided by the officers of the team, subject to room and instruction constraints.
Article 5: Duties of Team Members
Section 1: Beginner
Beginner members are members who join the team with no prior ballroom dance experience above the
Newcomer level. Beginners will typically compete at the Newcomer level in competitions for one semester
and then proceed to the next level, Bronze, by the second semester. Beginners are expected to attend 2
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instructed group lessons per week. All other practice times and spaces are open to them for unstructured
practice.
Beginner status may be held for a maximum of one year from the beginning of the semester in which they
joined the team. All Beginner members will automatically move to the Advanced category at the end of
the spring semester.
All team members are expected to help with the execution of the Tufts Ballroom Team Competition, as
determined by the Competition Coordinators.
Section 2: Advanced
This section encompasses members who are dancing at the Silver, Gold, or Open level, as well as team
members who are dancing at the Bronze level during the fall semester.
Members in this section are encouraged move up in accordance with the YCN proficiency points system
and in accordance with the rules of the competitions in which they are competing.
Syllabus dancers will either be provided with group lessons on campus, money for subsidized lessons, or
any combination of these two. The captains and treasurer will decide how lessons will be provided based
on financial constraints and the amount of available space to hold lessons. If lessons for their level are
offered on campus, Advanced dancers are expected to attend them. Partnering may be on or off the team
(as long as the partner adheres to team policies), and Advanced members are responsible for finding their
own partner when the team cannot offer one. This may be done on the MIT Partner Search or by inquiring
at other schools.
Advanced dancers are required to attend one team lesson or practice per week, on average. Advanced
members are required to mentor lower level dancers. This is because mentoring results in the “filtering” of
knowledge from older members to newer members.
All team members are expected to help with the execution of the Tufts Ballroom Team Competition, as
determined by the Competition Coordinators.
Section 3: Senior
Graduate students and general members of the Tufts Community are also welcome to join the Team, but
are considered Senior members. Senior members cannot vote or hold an officer position, and are exempt
from paying membership dues. Members in this category are not eligible to receive any subsidy money.
Article 6: Executive Board Duties and Election Procedures
Section 1: Members of Executive Board
The members of the Executive Board, also referred to as officers, shall be Two Team Captains, Senior
Competition Coordinator, Junior Competition Coordinator, Social Chair/Historian, Treasurer, and Show
Director. The two team Signatories will be the Treasurer and the Senior Competition Coordinator. The
board positions may be modified each year, but there must always be an odd number of board members.
In addition to the duties outlined below (Article 7), each member of the executive board will attend one
hour of either lesson or open practice time, with the remaining hours split between the two captains.
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Section 2: Elections
Elections will be held during the Spring Semester. To notify the team of their wish to run, candidates will
submit short paragraphs detailing the positions they want to be considered for, why they are seeking
election, and what they wish to accomplish if elected. These paragraphs will be distributed to the team
before elections, ensuring all team members have time to make considered decisions on whom they will
vote for. A team-wide vote elects the new officers; however, these newly elected officers will not be
inaugurated, or carry out their duties until they have completed training in the spring semester. Their term
officially begins after the last day of Spring Semester classes. Therefore, each position is held for exactly
one summer and the two following semesters.
Elections will be held for the following positions: Team Captains, Treasurer, Social Coordinator, Show
Director, and Webmaster/Historian. The Competition Coordinators are NOT elected, but rather appointed
by the executive board through an application process (see Article 7, Section 3 for details).
Section 3: Emergency Elections
An emergency election may be held if an officer is incapable of continuing his or her responsibilities in
office (due to personal crisis or per stipulations of Article 8.) and if other officers in that position (if the
position is held by more than one person) feel that it is necessary. If the position is held by only one
person, an emergency election must be held in order to replace the leaving officer. In the case of an
emergency election, the election will be held as soon as possible and the person elected to the vacated
office will hold the position up to the last day of classes of the Spring Semester. The same election
procedure outlined in (Article 6, Section 2) will be followed in case of an emergency election.
Section 4: Rights of Team Members
All undergraduate members (that is, only Beginner and Advanced members) paying the Tufts Student
Activity Fee and who are in good standing with the team are eligible to run for any position, and every
undergraduate member paying said fee has the right to vote.
Section 5: Majority Vote
Officers will be elected by a simple majority vote. If no candidate receives a majority of the vote, there
shall be a runoff election between the candidates who received the most votes. In the case of a tie, the
current officers shall decide the winner. All current officers who are not running for board shall count the
votes on the night of the elections.
Section 6: Re-running for Officer Positions
There is no limit to the amount of times that team members may hold an office.
Section 7: Emergency Responsibilities
In times of emergency or when an officer has been removed from office, the other team officers may
share the responsibilities of the inactive position until the position is filled.
Section 8: Democratic and Collaborative Spirit
Unless explicitly stated in this constitution, Executive Board members may make decisions in subject areas
solely under their control without bringing them to an Executive Board vote. However, in order to
maintain a collaborative and democratic spirit among the Executive Board, officers will present a summary
of their past week’s activity and future plans at each weekly Executive Board meeting.
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If a member of the Executive Board disagrees with a decision made by an individual officer or group of
officers, they may bring the decision to an Executive Board vote. The entire Executive Board, not including
the member who originally made the decision, must vote to overturn a decision in order for it to be
overturned.
Any member of the team may issue a formal complaint to the executive board via the board email account
[email protected].
Section 9: Meetings
Executive Board meetings will be held weekly to discuss updates and upcoming events. These meetings
are mandatory for all Executive Board members. They are not open to general members of the team
without explicit invitation by a member of the Executive Board. The captains shall schedule and take
attendance for weekly Executive Board meetings. The Social Chair shall record minutes for these meetings
and send them out the entire Board. The captains shall be given access to the Tufts Room Reservation
System so that they may reserve rooms for these meetings.
Absence from 2 or more meetings in a row without notifying the Executive Board at least 24 hours before
the scheduled meeting time will be considered sufficient grounds for impeachment. Additional meetings
may be called, typically by (but not limited to) the team captains, should there be any need to address
team-wide issues such as elections, competitions, impeachment, subsidy, etc.
The board will host at least one open meeting per semester at which the entire team is welcome to
facilitate discussion about improvements, concerns, and issues pertinent to the entire team.
Section 10: Executive Board Training
Upon election of the next Executive Board in the spring semester, the incumbent Executive Board will train
those who are to take on their respective roles before summer break. This training session should be
comprehensive and clear, wherein the current Executive Board member will demonstrate, show, or
explain to the new electee(s): the Ballroom Constitution, the subsidy rules, their stipulated role and
responsibilities, Tufts resources and other references (TCU Senate, r25, etc.) germane to the particular
position, as well as the contact information/names of those who may be of help in the next year. Executive
Board trainers must also provide their own contact information, should the trainees need further
emergency guidance in the next school year. In accordance with Article 10 Sections 1 and 2, the Executive
Board members must also pass relevant information and documentation to future Executive Board
members. (See Article 10 for further procedural information)
Article 7: Executive Board Positions
Section 1: Team Captains
Two Team Captains are elected each year. In the spring, the current Team Captains train the newly elected
captains (Article 6, Section 10). As part of this training, current Team Captains will work with the newly
elected captains to assign roles to each captain.
The responsibilities of the Team Captains include: recruiting new members; organizing and scheduling
practice space/time; emailing/communications; organizing, overseeing, and leading team practices; acting
as the liaison between the Tufts Ballroom Dance Team and other University Ballroom Dance Teams;
registering members for competitions; securing transportation; partnering of the newcomers for the first
two competitions of the year; preside over board meetings; and organizing, in collaboration with the
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current executive board, a day devoted to training and initiating the newly elected members. The captains
will be in charge of keeping the team up to date with important announcements involving the entire team.
Section 2: Treasurer
The Treasurer has the responsibility of overseeing the Tufts Ballroom budget and being the liaison
between the team and TCU. This position must be held by a Silver, Gold, or Open level dancer who has
received subsidized lessons for at least one semester prior to the fall semester when they hold the
position.
Duties of the treasurer include:
Arranging independent contractor forms with coaches for group and private lessons, starting as soon as
possible in August before school starts
Collecting and depositing dues and registration fees
Arranging checks to be cut by the TCU Treasury for competitions, transportation, and private and group
lessons
Collecting semesterly team dues (Article 3, Section 3)
Managing income and expenses for the Tufts Ballroom Competition (in cooperation with the
Competition Coordinators)
Distributing subsidized lessons among Advanced dancers who qualify for Subsidy in a fair and transparent
fashion
Enforcing rules of subsidy receiving members and redistributing if necessary
The Treasurer must present the allocation of subsidy to the Executive Board at the first meeting of each semester,
and a two-thirds majority vote of the Executive Board is required in order to pass the distribution. If the distribution
does not pass, revisions must be made at that meeting until a two-thirds majority vote is reached.
Section 3: Competition Coordinators
The Competition Coordinators have the responsibility of organizing the annual Tufts University Ballroom
Team Competition. There will be two Competition Coordinators appointed each year. The Junior
Competition Coordinator will both learn from and assist the more experienced Senior Competition
Coordinator. It is expected that the Junior Competition Coordinator will serve as Senior Competition
Coordinator the following year. In the beginning of the spring semester interested team members will
submit applications to the executive board. These applications will be evaluated by the current executive
board members, and new candidate(s) will be appointed by a majority vote of the board. A Competition
Coordinator’s term begins as soon as they are appointed to office in the spring semester, and lasts until
the following spring when the next pair is appointed. Nevertheless, Competition Coordinators are
expected to mentor their successors throughout the spring semester following their term.
All team members are expected to help the Competition Coordinators with the following jobs: acting as
runners for scrutineering sheets, judges’ attendants, helping at the registration desk, set-up/clean-up of
the event premises, and other necessary jobs to ensure competition success (such as emergency runs for
supplies, etc).
Competition coordinators must be in contact with the treasurer during the lifespan of the competition,
which includes wrapping up all financial matters after the competition is over. Many financial questions
will be highly time sensitive as they pertain to paying contracted professionals outside the team; therefore
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it will be crucial for the Competition Coordinators to work closely with the Treasurer to ensure that all
payments occur in a timely manner.
Section 4: Show Director
The Show Dance Director’s aim is to help promote the Tufts University Ballroom Team’s presence on Tufts
campus through the means of campus-wide show dances. The responsibilities of this team member
include:
Running a regular weekly practice rehearsal
Act as the liaison between the team and other groups that host shows on campus
Attend all show dance rehearsals and facilitate the filming of routines for team members
The show director shall be in charge of organizing the Orientation Show, Parents Weekend Show, and
Alumni Weekend Show each year.
The Show Dance Director may act as choreographer, or else enlist the help of another person or persons
on the Tufts Ballroom Team. Ideally, the Show Director will arrange at least 2 show dance opportunities
per semester for the Tufts Ballroom team.
Section 5: Social Chair/ Historian
The Social Chair’s aim is to promote team and club spirit, promote Tufts Ballroom on campus, interact with
other ballroom teams, and attend to emails or contact from off campus groups that want to interact with
the team.
The social chair’s responsibilities shall include:
Updating the team website and YouTube Channel
Maintaining the team Email List and Alumni Database
Creating an End of the Year newsletter for Team Members and Alumni.
Take Minutes at Weekly Board Meetings and send them out to the Executive Board.
They will also submit documents and photos to the Tisch Library Archives each Spring.
The Social Chair is responsible for organizing initiation and a pre-Tufts Comp cannon painting. They shall
also organize a minimum of 3 social dancing events each semester, including social dancing events with
other Ballroom Teams in the area. Additionally, they will organize team-bonding events such as team
dinners and social outings. They will also organize final farewells for seniors and Executive Board
members.
Article 8: Impeachment Procedures
Section 1: Voting
Any voting member of the team has the ability to bring an officer for impeachment and at least ¾ of the
team must be present at the proceeding. A two-thirds majority vote is required to remove an officer from
office.
Section 2: Inability to Return to Office
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Once removed from a position, the team member may continue to be part of the team, depending on the
reason for removal from office. However, under no circumstances may the member run for any office in
the next non-emergency election.
Section 3: Grounds for Impeachment
Grounds for impeachment include:
A: Missing two consecutive Executive Board meetings without giving 24 hour notice.
B: Not fulfilling officer duties and/or member duties.
C: Not treating the team mission and/or members with respect.
Article 9: Amendments
Section 1: Voting on Changes
A two-thirds majority vote from a quorum of one half of the team must be had to pass a proposed change
to the Constitution. The Social Chair shall consult with team members and the Executive Board to gauge
the need for revisions, and prepare a draft of proposed changes of the Tufts Ballroom Constitution and
Subsidy Handbook to present to the team during the Spring semester before elections. Review of the
Constitution and Subsidy Handbook must occur every spring, even if no changes are made. Any changes to
the Constitution, however, must be carried out in accordance with Article 9. All amendments to the
Constitution are subject to approval by the Tufts Community Union Judiciary.
Section 2: Attendance of Officers
In any proceeding to change the Constitution, a majority of officers must be present during the change
proposal and voting process.
Section 3: TCUJ Approval
All additions to the Constitution are subject to approval by the Tufts Community Union Judiciary.
Article 10: Transition and Renewal Procedures
Section 1: Mentoring New Officers
During the summer and the fall semester after elections, the old officers shall aid the new officers in the
responsibilities of their new positions. However, during the later part of fall and the Spring Semesters, the
new officers MUST be self-sufficient and only call on the old officers in the case of extreme emergency.
Section 2: Equipment and Documentation
After the election process, all files, documentation, and assorted equipment (radio, music, etc.), shall be
passed from the old officers to the new officers before the first meeting of the Fall Semester.
Section 3: Renewal Forms
The yearly renewal forms will be processed by the current Team Captains.
Section 4: Budget Submission
When the team budget is due, the board will meet to discuss revisions and updates for the team budget
presided over by the treasurer.
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Section 5: Re-recognition with the TCUJ
When the team is required to be re-recognized by the TCUJ, the Captains will act as the liaison between
the TCUJ representative and the Tufts Ballroom Dance Team. Failure to complete re- recognition may be
considered grounds for impeachment (Article 8, Section 3.b).
Article 11: Subsidy
Section 1: Eligibility
Advanced dancers will be eligible for subsidy money if they meet the requirements outlined in the Subsidy
Handbook.
Section 2: Use of Subsidy Money
The use of subsidy money is restricted to the Academic School Year.
Subsidy money is not transferrable. In other words, money awarded to a specific dancer or pair of dancers
is meant to be used by that dancer or pair of dancers and cannot be given to other team members.
However, as long as the awarded person is in attendance at the lesson, they may share that lesson with
whomever they wish.
Section 3: Subsidy Handbook
The Subsidy Handbook shall govern aspects of subsidy allocation and use not explicitly discussed in the
Constitution.
Section 4: Payment to Studios
Payment to each studio, coach, or private instructor shall be made only by means of a purchase order
submitted to the TCU Treasury prior to any lessons being taken from that studio or individual. Purchase
orders guarantee payment for future instruction without prepayment. This is important because it serves
to prevent unnecessary spending and eliminates the issue of leftover prepaid lessons at the end of a
semester.
The studio or instructor is responsible for submitting a detailed invoice, including the (a) names of parties
who have received lessons; (b) dates of lessons taken; and (c) price of each lesson. The treasurer is
responsible for handling payments to studios and coaches as they are submitted to the team, and
submitting the invoice to the treasury within 5 business days from the date of receipt. The treasurer is also
responsible for making sure that no money is owed by the team to any studio or coach at the end of each
semester.
Article 12: Team Coach
Section 1: Choosing a Coach
In the event that a team coach need be selected, the captains shall choose a coach in the manner outlined
by Sections 2-5. Otherwise, the treasurer shall renew the team coach’s contract from the previous year.
Section 2: Requirements
The team coach much be a professional ballroom dance instructor.
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Section 3: Role
The role of the team coach will be to teach the group lessons held each week on campus. On the occasion
that the coach cannot attend the groups lessons, he or she will arrange for another professional instructor
to teach the lesson. If needed, the coach can advise the team officers and team members in matters
concerning dance, competitions, and the team.
Section 4: Inability to Vote
The coach is not considered to be a member of the team and does not have the right to vote in team
matters.
Section 5: Letter of Request
At the beginning of each year, the captains will send a formal letter of request to the candidate they have
chosen. The letter will explain the role of the Team Coach and request a letter of acceptance. A copy of the
letter of request and letter of acceptance will be kept on file by the captains for the year. If the candidate
declines the request, the captains will choose a new candidate and send out a new letter. This will
continue until the position has been filled.
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The Tufts Ballroom
Dance Team
Subsidy Handbook
Last Updated: Spring 2015
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE 1: INTRODUCTION TO SUBSIDY -15
SECTION 1: DEFINITION OF SUBSIDY -15
SECTION 2: HOW DANCERS USE THEIR SUBSIDY -15
ARTICLE 2: REQUIREMENTS TO RECEIVE SUBSIDY -15
SECTION 1: ADVANCED MEMBERS -15
SECTION 2: SENIOR MEMBERS -16
ARTICLE 3: DETERMINING HOW MUCH MONEY EACH DANCER RECEIVES -16
SECTION 1: BASIC DESCRIPTION OF DIVIDING SUBSIDY -16
SECTION 2: HOW PARTNERING AFFECTS SUBSIDY -16
SECTION 3: HOW STYLES OF DANCE AFFECT SUBSIDY -17
SECTION 4: HOW LEVEL AFFECTS SUBSIDY -18
ARTICLE 4: HOW STUDIO PREFERENCE AFFECTS SUBSIDY -18
ARTICLE 5: PAYING FOR COMPETITION FEES WITH SUBSIDY -18
ARTICLE 6: REDISTRIBUTION OF SUBSIDY -18
Section 1: Expectations of Subsidy Receivers -19
Section 2: Redistribution -19
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Article 1: Introduction to Subsidy
Section 1: Definition of Subsidy
Subsidy is a sum of money provided to the Tufts Ballroom Team by the TCU Senate to assist the upperlevel dancers in paying for their lessons. Subsidy makes it possible for members of the Tufts Ballroom
Dance Team who cannot benefit from group lessons offered by the team to take private lessons at their
level with an instructor of their choice.
All subsidy money comes from TCU funds and the Student Activity fee that contributes to these funds. The
distribution of subsidy is determined by the Executive Board of the Tufts Ballroom Dance Team as outlined
in Article 7, Section 2 of the Constitution.
Section 2: How Dancers Use Their Subsidy
Dancers use their subsidy to take as many full lessons as the money allows. Then, if there is any money left
over, the dancers must pay for whatever portion of the lesson their subsidy will not cover. If dancers then
want to take lessons beyond what subsidy paid for, they will pay the full cost of each lesson.
Article 2: Requirements to Receive Subsidy
Section 1: Advanced Members
An Advanced member who wishes to receive subsidy must fulfill three requirements: (1) Be a silver, gold,
or open level dancer in the styles of dance they wish to receive subsidy for (2) Be a member of the Tufts
Ballroom Dance Team in good standing and (3) Pay the Tufts Undergraduate Student Activities Fee.
There are three ways to fulfill the first requirement:
1. All dancers, once they have spent two semesters as bronze level dancers, are considered silver level
dancers by the team, provided that they also plan to compete in the silver level or above during the
semester for which they have requested subsidy. This time requirement is typically completed after three
semesters of dancing (one semester as newcomer and two semesters as bronze).
2. All dancers who have earned seven YNC points in a given bronze-level dance are considered to be
silver-level for that dance. Once a dancer places out of two dances within a given style, the team will
consider them silver level in that style. YNC points can be checked at http://ballroomregistrar.com/ or
calculated using the method described on the MIT Ballroom website at
http://ballroom.mit.edu/index.php/ycn-proficiency-points/.
3. A dancer that joins the team with prior experience can be judged a silver level (or above) dancer if the
Executive Board agrees (by a majority vote) that the dancer in question should be competing at the silver
level (or above). Such a dancer may receive subsidy as long as they are competing at the silver level or
above.
On the occasion that a lower level dancer (newcomer or bronze), who is a member in good standing with
the team, agrees to be in a partnership with an Advanced member dancing silver or above, the lower level
dancer may request to become eligible for subsidy in the style of dance in which they plan to compete
with their upper level partner(s). The upper level dancer need not be a member of the team in order to
make this request. In order to be eligible to move up to their partner’s level and apply for subsidy, the
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lower level dancer must be evaluated for proficiency by the team coach. After the coach makes a
recommendation for or against allowing the dancer to move up and receive subsidy, the Executive Board
must take this recommendation into consideration and make a decision regarding the member’s eligibility
to move up. Only the Executive Board has the authority to grant or prevent a dancer from receiving
subsidy, and must make this decision by a majority vote.
To be an Advanced member in good standing of the Tufts Ballroom Dance team a dancer must be involved
in the team in the following ways:
1. Pay membership dues and all competition fees on time.
2. Attend mandatory meetings held by the team, including election speeches.
Valid excuses presented to the captains ahead of time or unforeseen emergencies can exempt a dancer
from attending a meeting.
3. Reply by the stated deadline to any e-mail from a ballroom officer requesting information regarding
partnering, subsidy questions, or any other team-related needs.
4. Mentor dancers at a lower level than their own level at least once per week.
5. Plan to compete in college competitions or pro/am competitions offered throughout the year.
Section 2: Senior Members
Senior Members (as defined in the Constitution, Article 5) cannot receive regular subsidy because they do
not pay the Undergraduate Student Activity Fee to Tufts University. If a Senior member is partnered with
an Advanced member, the Advanced member may still apply for subsidy and will receive subsidy for only
one dancer. However, this will only occur if the Senior member and the Advanced member are both
members in good standing of the Tufts Ballroom Dance Team. For the Senior member to be a member in
good standing of the Tufts Ballroom Dance Team, they must fulfill all of the requirements listed in the
above section for Advanced members.
Article 3: Determining How Much Money Each Dancer Receives
Section 1: Basic Description of Dividing Subsidy
All members of the Tufts Ballroom Team who have applied for subsidy, are in good standing, and meet the
level requirements to receive subsidy will get an “equal” portion of subsidy. “Equal” is in quotation marks
because some dancers will receive more or less subsidy based on their partnering, styles, and level (see
the sections below).
Section 2: How Partnering Affects Subsidy
Subsidy is determined on an individual basis based on the styles and level that each individual dances. An
individual can choose to (1) use his or her money to subsidize private lessons for himself or herself, (2) to
subsidize lessons for both himself/herself and his/her partner, or (3) any combination of private lessons
and lessons as a partnership.
If an individual has a partner who is a Tufts Student also receiving subsidy, he or she may combine their
subsidy with the subsidy of his or her partner in order to maximize the number of lessons they can afford
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as a partnership. A partnership wishing to combine their subsidy must inform the Treasurer at the time of
their subsidy request and will receive a single e-mail detailing their joint money. Requesting money as a
partnership will not affect the amount that each individual receives, it will simply mean that the total
money will be held jointly, and they will be expected to both attend each lesson at which their subsidy is
used.
Each studio will be told whether the dancers have received money as a partnership or individually. Thus,
when subsidy is received, all dancers must specify the number of lessons they would like to have in their
individual name versus in the name of their partnership (out of the lessons they have been awarded) so
the studios know how the money they receive is allowed to be spent.
If a dancer does not have a partner, but is actively looking for a partner with plans to compete in collegiate
competitions or is competing Pro-Am, they will receive money as an individual.
If a dancer has a partner who is not a member of the Tufts Ballroom Team or a partner that is a member of
the Tufts Ballroom Team that does not qualify for subsidy, he or she will receive money as an individual.
The subsidized dancer may use his or her money to fund full or partial lessons with his or her partner.
Partial payments of lessons with subsidy money can be worked out with the individual studio.
If a dancer has more than one partner, his or her subsidy will be divided into portions of lessons per style.
Consider the example in which a male dancer receives $30 in subsidy and dances latin and standard with
one person and smooth with a different. The dancer will be told that $20 of his subsidy is to be used with
his first partner in latin and standard and $10 of his subsidy is to be used with his second partner in
smooth. This breakdown will not always be exactly even based on the money available and the number of
styles the individual dances. See the section on how styles affect subsidy. Dancers with more than one
partner may
still request money individually or in the form of partnerships, although a dancer with multiple partners
will be subsidized as multiple partnerships. Taking the example above, if the first partner also received $20
and the second partner also received $10, the original dancer with two partners would be told they had
$40 jointly with their first partner and $20 jointly with their second partner, if they chose to be subsidized
as partnerships.
Section 3: How Styles of Dance Affect Subsidy
The amount of subsidy is directly affected by the number of styles each subsidized individual dances. A
style is considered to be latin, rhythm, smooth, or standard. Thus, no dancer can dance more than four
styles.
All dancers will receive an equal baseline of subsidy that provides them with a reasonable amount of
money to take lessons with. Money will then be added to this baseline based on how many styles they
dance and the amount of money available that given semester. For example, if the baseline amount of
money is enough to pay for three lessons, a dancer dancing one style may end up with enough money to
afford five lessons while a dancer dancing two styles may end up with enough money to afford seven.
No dancer or partnership will be given more money than it is conceivable to spend in a single semester
while still attending classes and doing homework.
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Section 4: How Level Affects Subsidy
The Tufts Ballroom Team wants the silver dancers to grow and develop just as much as the open level
dancers. Thus, all dancers will be given an equal opportunity to take lessons with “equal” amounts of
subsidy. However, if silver lessons are being offered in certain styles, silver dancers dancing in those styles
will receive less subsidy than dancers who have no group lessons available to them through the team. Each
year the beginning silver dancers, as a group, will be given the option in the spring to continue having one
group lesson a week offered or just receive subsidy. Subsidy for beginning silver dancers will then reflect
this decision. Thus, the subsidy to beginning silver dancers will change year-to-year based on the group
lessons available to them.
If there is a large disparity between the levels and years of experience of dancers receiving subsidy, the
treasurer may decide upon a fair system of distribution in which more experienced dancers
proportionally receive more lessons than a first-time silver dancer. For example, imagine that Sara is
competing 4 styles at the silver level, while Emily is competing 2 styles at the champion level. Sara has
never received subsidy in the past, but Emily has been a subsidy receiver and mentor for two years.
While Sara may receive $10 per style to go towards her lessons, Emily may receive $20 per style to go
towards her lessons. In this way, dancers who have been active members of the team and consistently
give back can continue their growth after group classes are not offered at their level. The precise
stratifications of lesson money will be determined by each treasurer and executive board, and should be
based on longevity with the team, more so than level achieved.
Article 4: How Studio Preference Affects Subsidy
A dancer may choose to spend their subsidy at any studio of their choosing, with any individual dance
professional of their choosing, or with any combination of studios and dance professionals they choose.
However, all decisions as to which studio(s) or dance professional(s) the subsidy is to be divided among
and how the money is to be divided must be made at the beginning of the semester (by the deadline given
at the time) and explained to the Treasurer.
The amount of subsidy received by an individual will not vary based on studio. Thus, a subsidized individual
taking lessons at a studio that charges $65 for lessons will be able to take more subsidized lessons than a
subsidized individual receiving the same amount of subsidy but taking lessons at a studio that charges $85
per lesson. Individual dancers may want to take this into consideration when choosing which studio or
dance professionals they wish to take lessons from.
If an individual chooses to have his or her subsidy at a studio, he or she will be able to take lessons from
any instructor at that studio. If an individual chooses to have his or her subsidy with a single dance
professional, he or she will be restricted to taking lessons only from that dance professional.
Article 5: Paying for Competition Fees with Subsidy
All members of the Tufts Ballroom Team are required to pay competition fees for any competition for
which they register. Dancers who receive subsidy may not choose to cover their competition fees with
their subsidy money. Subsidy money is to be used solely for the purpose of lessons.
Article 6: Redistribution of Subsidy
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Section 1: Expectations of Subsidy Receivers
The precise requirements to receive subsidy will depend upon the decision of the current executive board,
but there are certain commitments that are expected of those receiving subsidy money. To be a member
in good standing, they should:
1. Any dancer competing a style which has a group lesson must attend ⅔ of the group lessons offered for
that style, or risk losing subsidy
2. Attend open practice and mentor lower-level dancers at least one hour a week
3. Pay all dues and competition fees at the proper time
4. Use a certain proportion of their lessons by a predetermined date in the semester, see Section 2.
Any member who does not abide by these rules will risk their lessons being redistributed.
Section 2: Redistribution
At the start of each semester, the treasurer shall decide upon the allocation of subsidy lessons amongst
team members. At the subsidy meeting at the beginning of each semester, the treasurer shall also
determine and advertise a date by which all subsidy members should have completed some percentage
P% of their lessons. Under extenuating circumstances, the board may change this date if necessary. If
there are members who have not met that threshold amount of lessons, then a portion of their lessons
will be re-allocated to members who are actively using them.
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